VIENTIANE—Peace Process Adviser Jesus Dureza on Thursday claimed that media reports linking former President Fidel Ramos as the source of President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco-list were “total fabrications” even if official transcripts and taped recordings show otherwise.
“President Duterte categorically denied media reports claiming that former President Fidel Ramos was the original source on the so-called drug list,” Dureza said.
“The President clarified that in the various occasions when he met with the former President before the elections, the only recurring message to him was the need for him to run for President due to the many challenges facing the nation, drugs being one of them.
“To say that the source of the narcotics list came from President Ramos is a total fabrication,” Duterte was quoted in the statement.
But in his speech last Monday, Duterte said the source of his “narco list” was former President Fidel Ramos who gave it to him to convince him to run for President.
Speaking before the Filipino community here, Duterte recalled how Ramos tried to convince him even when he was still mayor of Davao City to pursue the country’s highest position because of the illegal drug trade.
“President Ramos went to Davao four times. He said I must run because it was about time that Mindanao had its own President,” Duterte said. “That’s what we discussed, and you can ask him. He’s still alive.”
Duterte said Ramos’ second visit impressed him the most because he showed him the list of police generals and other officials involved in the illegal drug trade.
“He was strongly urging me to run. He said I was the only one who could stop [the trade in illegal drugs],” Duterte said.
“Then he showed me a list. It was very thick. I haven’t released all [the names yet] because I’m still validating it.
“He said ‘If you do not run, who will run? If you keep on refusing, this country will go to the dogs’.”
Duterte said Ramos talked to him two more times to convince him to run for President, and that he gave him at least P5 million from anonymous sources to help him finance his campaign.
The Department of Justice, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and even the police had earlier denied giving Duterte his list of narco-generals and executives whom he named to shame them.
Duterte vowed to name more officials involved in the illegal drug trade.
Duterte received the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from Laos on Thursday. The 10-nation regional bloc will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.
He will be visiting Indonesia today, where Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso is awaiting execution.
